India rejects Indus Waters Treaty ruling, says Court of Arbitration has ‘no jurisdiction’

India on Monday rejected an “award” issued by the World Bank's Court of Arbitration (CoA) on the Indus Waters Treaty, saying the body was “illegally constituted” and had no jurisdiction to rule on India's sovereign decisions.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the latest pronouncement would have no bearing on India's actions and reiterated that New Delhi's decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remains in force.

India rejects CoA's jurisdiction

In a statement, the MEA said India had never recognised the legal existence of the Court of Arbitration and had refused to participate in its proceedings.

“Today, the illegally constituted so-called Court of Arbitration (CoA) has issued what it termed as an award concerning Interim Measures and Status of the Indus Waters Treaty. This so called Court was constituted by the World Bank in patent breach of the terms of the Treaty and India categorically rejects its so-called award, just as it has firmly rejected all prior pronouncements by this illegally constituted body,” the ministry said.

The MEA maintained that the constitution of the court itself violated the treaty.

“Accordingly, India has never appeared before this body and has refused to take any cognisance of its earlier pronouncements,” the statement said.

Court says treaty remains in force

The Court of Arbitration said it had examined the current status of the treaty as well as India's decision to place it in abeyance.

It said the grounds cited for suspending the agreement did not “justify suspension or termination”.

“Accordingly, the Indus Waters Treaty remains fully in force, and India must observe its obligations under the Treaty,” the court said.

India, however, rejected the position.

The MEA said the CoA had “no jurisdiction” over India's sovereign decisions and that its pronouncements would not affect projects being undertaken by New Delhi.

“India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remains in force,” the ministry stated.

Earlier dispute over hydroelectric projects

India has previously rejected pronouncements by the CoA concerning the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

The projects are located on the Indus river system. The dispute over the treaty and the projects has continued amid India's decision to pause the agreement following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.